On any given day we are inundated with questions, tasks and concerns. All can have the ability to get you off your game and drain your batteries. As the saying goes the main thing is to keep the main thing as the main thing. Focus on the things that move the needle. The rest needs to be managed but should never be given the priority. Know your main thing and focus on it.

Today, it feels that there is an ever increasing and inflated sense of self importance from many of those around us. That to get on you have to agree with another’s point of view or you are labeled as idiot or worse.

In today’s environment I can see why more people are leery about stating they want to be successful. Just pick up any paper or scan the internet on any given day and read how more and more the articles ridicule personal wealth and the trappings that come with success. We all should get to make our own decisions and choose our own path.

At the same time there is a group of people who want to be successful but do not want to put the hard work in to actually earn it. They spend more time ridiculing people who are successful and brewing up resentment.

For those committed to learning your craft. I congratulate you for investing in your self. Your future will be bright if you out think, out work the competition and you positively apply yourself to be a force for good. In essence, I contend you have already won and you are on the road to making your life matter.

I am a firm believer that actions speak louder than words. However, that does not mean that words are mere throw always. As a person and especially as a leader make sure that you are kind with your words. Don’t automatically judge, rush to a conclusion or simply vent. Think about the words you choose to use both verbally, written and especially on social media.

Words do matter and help shape thoughts that in turn drive action. Encourage through words and you will be shaping yourself and others for a better life. Make them count.

If I asked you what your net worth is you’d probably start thinking about your assets and the like. However, in this instance I do not mean your monetary net worth. I am thinking about about your true net worth; your personal net worth.

The real question we should really ask ourselves continuously is are we having a positive impact on those around us? Do our positive contributions outweigh your shortcomings? List out what your positive contributions are and then make plans to expand those contributions. The goal is that we all leave a positive impact with our good far outweighing our bad. Below is a quote from Ben Franklin who centuries ago thought the same way.

” Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones” – Ben Franklin

In life we will all face challenges that at times take away your breath, leave you momentarily powerless and spinning out of control.

In those difficult times know that it will pass and that you will survive and comeback even stronger. Take deep breaths, mediate, exercise or go for long walks to clear your head. In essence do whatever it takes to keep you going except for wallowing in pity, over eating or over medicating on anything.

There will always be critics and haters out there. Don’t let them define you. Instead know in these difficult times that you have been knocked down but you will bounce back to be stronger. Just never, ever give up.

This week I was meeting with an exceptionally talented inventor. The conversations on a whole were stimulating. The ideas were endless and the passion was fantastic. This young man had everything going for him.

The issue is that he had literally everything going for him. He was focused on everything with the same level of intensity. There was no focus. Everything was muddled together providing zero clarity and actually causing major confusion.

After around an hour of probing questions we were able to prioritize the important from the nice to do’s. Within a morning session we were able to define the game plan for the next year and capture succinctly the priorities and the subsequent deliverables to define success. We focused on five things and I repeatedly challenged with this statement “You can not boil the ocean. Is this a must have?”

The thought for us all is that we have to define what is important and then focus relentlessly on making those “sometimes” become all encompassing in our thoughts and actions.

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Loyalty and conviction are hard to measure. A deficiency in either only usually surfaces in difficult times and those with true loyalty and conviction distinguish themselves. Conversely, at the time when loyalty and conviction are most needed you will usually find your fake friends running for the hills.

Make sure that you are not wanting in being there when a friend needs you the most. People say a lot and give platitudes but what they actually do can be measured. Go out of your way in these difficult moments and not pass up on the opportunity to show to you that loyalty and conviction are unconditional.

This week I was invited to speak with some students. The central topic was how do they best prepare for the working world? The session was well received and the students were engaged. In the Q&A session to a person all the questions were framed with a negative slant; what do I do if my boss does not listen? If someone takes my idea or if I’m over qualified and better than my supervisor and so on.

The advice that I gave the soon to be entering the workforce students is what I would give anyone; don’t pull people down to make yourself look good. Instead, make everyone look good and you will be recognized for being a great team player and someone who makes everyone around them better. Both are great qualities of a leader.

Over the last several years there as been an upswing in victim mentality thinking. On a daily basis we are inundated with victim identify issues and people coming out complaining how the world is against them. If you look hard enough you can come up with all sorts of stretchable truths that can get you spinning on negativity.

In business it is imperative that you do not let this type of thinking permeate your game plan or how you communicate. Now is the time to double down and galnvermize your team on how you can be better, special, unique and differentiated. Leave the others to identify reasons for their non success while you think about how you control your own destiny with the knowledge that your best days are ahead of you. That’s the mentality that will have you making a difference.